'antiorthodoxy' originates from Greek elements: 'anti-' (from Greek 'antí', meaning 'against') combined with 'orthodoxy' (from Greek 'orthodoxia', meaning 'right belief' or 'correct opinion').

'anti-' is a Greek prefix meaning 'against', while 'orthodoxy' comes from Greek 'orthodoxia' (from 'orthos' = 'correct' + 'doxa' = 'opinion, belief'); these elements entered English via Late Latin and/or Old French and were combined in modern English to form 'antiorthodoxy'.

Initially built from components meaning 'against correct belief', the compound now refers more broadly to opposition to established or authoritative beliefs and practices rather than a narrowly defined theological negation.